Dental cleaning and massaging device

ABSTRACT

A dental cleaning and massaging device includes an elongated hollow hand-held member divided by a partition into an upper water reservoir and a lower compartment, and an elongated nozzle is plugged into a socket in the upper side wall of the hand-held member and is angularly adjustable about transverse and longitudinal axes. A motor driven piston pump is housed in the lower compartment, the pump cylinder being connected to the nozzle by way of a passageway leading to the socket and to the reservoir by way of a check valve which is opened by the pump suction stroke. A stop member in the path of the check valve is adjustable to limit the closed position of the check valve and hence the pressure volume and velocity of the water jet from the nozzle.

United States Patent 1191 Kovach Apr. 2, 1974 DENTAL CLEANING ANDMASSAGING Primary Examiner-Lawrence W. Trapp DEVICE Attorney, Agent, orFirm-William R. Liberman [76] Inventor: Leslie J. Kovach, 880 FifthAve.,

New York, N.Y. 10021 [571 ABSTRACT l A dental cleaning and massagingdevice includes an [22] Flled May 1972 elongated hollow hand-held memberdivided by a par- [21] Appl. No.: 254,458 tition into an upper waterreservoir and a lower compartment, and an elongated nozzle is pluggedinto a socket in the upper side wall of the hand-held member 128/ and isangularly adjustable about transverse and longi- [58] Fie'ld A 66 230tudinal axes. A motor driven piston pump is housed in the lowercompartment, the pump cylinder being connected to the nozzle by way of apassageway leading [56] Reterences Cited to the socket and to thereservoir by way of a check UNITED STATES PATENTS valve which is openedby the pump suction stroke. A 3,452,745 7/l969 Hutchinson et al 128/66top member in the path of the check valve is adjust- 14251410 2/969Cflmmack; 128/66 able to limit the closed position of the check valveand g i hence the pressure volume and velocity of the water 0 ac3,703,170 11 1972 Ryckman, Jr 128/66 Jet from the 14 Claims, 8 DrawingFigures 1- *7!) r 1% /4 i: 56 ii 2 "MENTEDAPR 21914 $800 786 sum 1 ar 2DENTAL CLEANING AND MASSAGING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thepresent invention relates generally to improvements in dental cleaningand massaging devices and it relates particularly to an improved devicefor the cleaning of teeth by use of a liquid jet.

A common method for cleaning the teeth is by means of a fine,high-velocity water jet directed onto the dental area to be cleaned. Thewater jet is also employed for massaging the gums since the jet producesa pressure in the region of the gums subjected to the jet and thesuccessive application and relief or variation of such pressure effectsa massaging action of the gums. Many forms of water jet dental cleaningdevices have been employed and proposed but these possess many the useof an electrical outlet with its attendant drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, a principal object of thepresent invention to provide an improved dental cleaning and massagingdevice. I

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved waterjet type of dental cleaning and massaging device.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedbattery-powered water jet type of dental cleaning and massaging devicewhich is selfcontained in a hand-held housing.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improveddevice of the above nature characterized by its compactness,reliability, ruggedness, efficiency, convenience of use, higheffectiveness, versatility and adaptability.

The above and other objects of the present invention will becomeapparent from a reading of the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate'a preferredembodiment thereof.

In a sense, the present invention contemplates the provision of a dentaltreating device comprising a hollow hand-held member provided with aliuid reservoir, a nozzle mounted on the body of the member, areciprocating pump mounted in the handle and including an expansionchamber communicating with the nozzle, and means providing communicationbetween the cylinder and the reservoir and including a check valvelocated between the cylinder and said expansion chamber and movablebetween closed and open positions and urged toward an open position inresponse to the suction stroke of the pump, control means for adjustablylimiting the closed position of the check valve, and means for drivingthe pump. Another feature of the present invention resides in thestructure wherein the nozzle is provided with a transversely projectingtubular plug which rotatably engages a socket located in the handle walland communicating with the pump, the nozzle being angularly adjustableabout its longitudinal axis in the plus and being angularly adjustableabout the longitudinal axis of the socket.

In the preferred form of the improved device the handle is provided witha compartment below the reservoir and separated from the reservoir by ahorizontal partition. The pump is a reciprocating piston pump, thecylinder being mounted on the partition underface and connected to thenozzle by way of a passageway and to the reservoir by a valveseat-defining port in the partition with which the check valve elementregisters and is spring urged toward engagement therewith. A stop memberis located above the valve element to adjustably limit its closingposition and hence the water jet pressure, volume and velocity. Abattery and the electric motor are located in the compartment and themotor drive shaft is connected to a crank shaft by a right angle geartransmission, the crank shaft being coupled to the piston rod by way ofa cross head.

The improved dental cleaning and massage device is rugged, simple andreliable, easy and convenient to use,

compact and of great versatility.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONOF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevational view ofthe improved device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view' thereof;

FIG. 3 is a vertical'section along the line 33 of FIG. 1, with thenozzle removed;

FIG. 3a is a fragmentary plan view of FIG. 3 with the cover removed;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section through the nozzle plug member;

FIG. 4a is a plan view of the nozzle plug member FIG. 5 is a horizontalsection along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a horizontal FIG. 3.

section along the line 6-6 of DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTpartition 13 into an upper reservoir 14 and a lower pump and powerhousing compartment including an upper section 16 and a lower section 17divided by a horizontal mounting plate 18. Member 11 is formed of twounits, an upper unit which includes reservoir 14, upper section 16 andpartition 13 and a lower unit which includes lower section 17 andmounting plate 18, the units being suitably secured end to end by boltsregistering with openings in plate 18 and engaging tapped bores invertical ribs on the inside face of the reservoir walls.

Reservoir 14 is open at its top and is provided with a separable closurecap 19 including a skirt wall 20 having a depending self hinge 21 formedtherewith and suitably secured to the top border of the reservoirperipheral wall 22. A valve seat-defining circular port 23 1 is formedin partition 13 proximate an edge thereof and -face, partition l3 beingupwardly inclined from port 23. Extending upwardly from port 13 andintegrally formed with reservoir wall 22 is a bar 24 which reaches apoint below the top of reservoir 11 and has formed therein an outletpassage defining a first outer vertical bore 26 and a second innervertical bore 27 whch is internally threaded at'its upper end. Bore 27is coaxial with port 23 and has a bottom side inlet opening 28communicating with reservoir 14 and an inside shoulder above opening 28which entraps an O-ring 29.

Depending from and integrally formed with the underface of partition 13and extending from and integrally formed with wall 22 is a pump supportmember 30 which has a vertical bore open at its bottom and communicatingwith port 23 and bore 26 and is provided with wing sections havingtapped vertical bores. The top of bore 26 is closed by a plug 25 and asocket 32 is formed in reservoirwall 22 proximate the upper end ofbore'26 and communicates therewith by a transverse bore 33. An annularprojection 34 is formed on the outside face of wall 22 coaxial with bore33 and has astepped inside face 36 joined at its inner periphery to theface of bore 33 by an'inwardly converging conical face 37. An O-ring 38is located in socket 32 and abuts a shoulder separating faces 36 and 37.Ring 38 is locked in position by an externally stepped retaining ring 39engaging the outer border of face 36. The outside annular face 40 ofprojection 34 is provided with radial serrations along its fullperimeter.

Nozzle member 12 comprises an elbow shaped inner plug unit 41 havingformed proximate its end a transversely projecting tubular nipple 42provided with a tapered tip 43 having a peripheral groove 44 at itsbasev Coaxially surrounding the base of nipple 42 and rearwardly andradilaly spaced therefrom is an outwardly directed, serrated annularface 40. In the socket inserted position of plug 41, nipple 42 mates thesocket 32 with O-ring 38 tightly engaging groove 44 and the serratedsurfaces 40 and 46 are in engagement to prevent the rotation of plug 41in socket 32. The anguler position of plug'41 and nozzle member 12 maybe angularly adjusted by retracting plug 41 from socket 32, turningnozzle member 12 to the desired position and then reinserting plug 41.

An arm 47 extends from the inner end of plug 41 and includes a multiplestepped longitudinal bore 48 communicating with the transverse nipplebore 49 and an O-ring 50 engages an annular inside shoulder at the baseof the outermost stepped portion of bore 49. A tubular nozzle element 51having a fine longitudinal bore includes an elongated section 52terminating at its outer end in an inclined tapered leg 53 and issuitably secured at its. inner end to a tubular coupling member 54provided with a knob 56. Coupling member 54 includes at its inner end anipple 57, similar in construction to nipple 42 which releasably engagesthe outer socket defining end of bore 48 with O-ring engaging screws 61which engage the washers and the tapped bores in wings 35. A liquidtight seal is effected by an O-ring registering with a peripheral groovein sleeve 60 and engaging the inside face of the bore of support section30. Depending from and integrally formed with sleeve 60 is a verticalcylinder 64 of lesser inside and outside diameters than those of sleeve60 and eccentric to sleeve 60 and coaxial with port 23.

A piston 65 reciprocatingly telescopes cylinder 64 and includes a lowersolid cylindrical section 66 having a coaxial bore in its lower port anda thin peripheral skirt wall projecting above section 66 and of slightlygreater outside diameter than section 66 to effect a liquid tight sealwith the inside face of cylinder 64. A piston rod 67 is secured in thewell of piston section 66 and extends downwardly into vertical slidingengagement with a sleeve 68 integrally formed with and depending frommounting plate 18. A crosshead 69 is mounted on piston rod 67 directlybelow piston 65 and is provided with a horizontal track-defining groove70.

A check valve support spider 71 is located in sleeve section andincludes a stepped upper annulus 72 which matingly engages acorrespondingly shaped shoulder formed in the upper inner border ofsleeve section 60 and is coaxial with port 23. Peripherally spaced anddownwardly converging arms 73 depend from annulus 72 and support attheir bottoms an integrally formed slide bearing sleeve 74 likewisecoaxial with valve seat-defining port 23, sleeve 74 projecting into theupper part of piston when the latter is in its raised position. v

A frustoconical valve member 76, having an upwardly converging face,registers with and mates the valve seat face of port 23. Depending fromand secured to valve member 76 is a coaxial rod 77 which slidablyengages sleeve 74, and a helical compression spring 78 encircles rod 77and is entrapped between the confronting faces of sleeve 74 and valvemember 76 to bias valve member 76 toward engagement with valve seat 23.

In order to control the pressure, velocity and volume of the water jetdischarge of nozzle 12 a vertically adjustable control rod 79 extendscoaxially through bore 27 and terminates at its bottom in a shank 80 ofreduced diameter which is in water tight slidable engagement O-ring 29.The tip of shank 80 is slightly tapered and bears on the base of ashallow well formed in the top face of valve member 76. A lever knob 81is provided with a depending hub-defining externally threaded sleeve 82which engages the internally threaded upper border of bore 27, and theupper end of rod 27 rests in and is affixed to sleeve 82. Rod 79 andvalve member 76 are so related that,'when knob 81 is at a predeterminedhigh pressure designated position, rod 79 is raised to a pointpermitting the full closing of valve member 76, that is in closingengagement with valve seat 23, and with the clockwise turning of knob81, the rod 79 is lowered correspondingly to limit the upward movementof valve member 76 so that there is an adjustable passage or opening inthe check valve when the valve member 76 is in its raised position aslimited by the stop-defining control rod 79.

An electiic motor 83 is vertically positioned in lower compartmentsection 17 and is bolted to the underface of mounting plate 18 spacedtherefrom by integrally formed depending spacers 84. Drive shaft 86 ofmotor 83 projects upwardly through an opening in mounting plate 18 andhas suitably affixed thereto a bevel gear 87. A horizontal U-shapedbearing block 88 is supported atop mounting plate 18 and includes a pairof side arms 89 positioned on opposite sides of bevel gear 87. Atransverse shaft 90 extends between and is journalled in side arms 89above and across bevel gear 87 and a second bevel gear 91 is keyed toshaft 90 and meshes with bevel gear 87 to provide a right angletransmission. Also keyed to shaft 90 along the outside face of a sidearm 89 remote from crosshead 69 is a gear 92.

A bearing block 94 is located atop and is integrally formed withmounting plate 18 and has a horizontal bore formed therein, the axis ofwhich is parallel to shaft 90 and intercepts the axis of piston rod 67.Journalled in block 94 and projecting beyond opposite ends thereof is ashaft 96 having affixed to an end thereof rev mote from piston rod 67 agear 97' which meshes with gear 92. A crankshaft 98 is affixed to theend of shaft 96 opposite gear 97 and is provided with an eccentric slideor follower member 99 which slidably engages track 70 in crosshead 69and rockably engages the eccentric pin on crankshaft 98. In the raisedposition of piston 65 as effected by crankshaft 98 the upper edge ofpiston skirt wall 55 is at the level of the top edge of cylinder 64.

A cylindrical rechargable battery 100, such as of the nickle cadmiumtype, is housed in compartments 16 and 17 and extends through an arcuateopening 101 formed in mounting plate 18 and extending to the edgethereof. A bottom lid 102 registers with and closes the bottom openingof handle .11 and is suitably retained in its closed position. Mountedon the lower border of the peripheral wall of member 11 is a polarizedtwo terminal socket member 103 which is externally accessible, each ofthe socket terminals being connected by a respective insulator coveredconductor 104 to corresponding contact elements engaging the oppositepoles of battery 100. An externally accessible normally open push buttonswitch 105 is mounted on wall 22 proximate the lower part of therestricted portion thereof and is connected between one pole of battery100 by way of an associated battery contact element and one terminal ofmotor 83, the other terminal of motor 83 being connected to the oppositebattery pole by way of a respective contact element. A locking elementis provided for releasably locking the push button 106 of the switch 105in its retracted switch open position to prevent the inadvertent closingthereof.

Considering now the operation of the improved dental cleaning andmassaging device 10, the lid 19 is swung Open thus providing access toknob 81 and reservoir 14. Knob 81 is then rotated to the desired jetpressure, that is to its extreme counterclockwise position abutting plug25 in which position the rod 79 is fully raised and the valve member 76is thus permitted to engage the valve seat 23 under the influence ofspring 78 to close the check valve completely or to its extremeclockwise position abutting the opposite face of plug 25, in whichlatter position the rod 79 is at its lowermost position to limit theupward movement of valve member 76 to its maximum stop limited spacedposition from valve seat 23 thus providing a maximum return flow passagebetween cylinder 64 and reservoir 14 during the pump pressure stroke.Intermediate positions of knob 81 effect intermediate raised positionsof valve member 76 and return passages of corresponding intermediateflow cross sections. Reservoir 14 is then filled with water or anydesired solution and the lid 19 is then snap-closed to effect a liquidtight seal of the reservoir. Nozzle 12 is then unplugged from the socket32 turned to any desired upright position about the axis of socket 32and plugged into the socket, being retained in the present position bythe mating serrated surfaces 40 and 46. The nozzle 51 is also adjustedaboutits longitudinal axis. The device 10 is grasped, the nozzle 51directed at the area to be cleaned and the unlocked switch button 10depressed to close the battery motor circuit and energize the motor 83which drives the pump, reciprocating piston 65 by way of the right anglegear transmission and the crankshaft and crosshead.

With the downward or suction stroke of the piston 65 there is sufficientsuction to open valve member 76 and draw liquid from the reservoir 14which is under some head into the pump chamber even in the absense of acheck valve in the pump outlet by reason of the back pressure normallyeffected by bore 26 and the restricted passageway through the nozzle 12.Upon the upward or pressure stroke of piston 65, valve member 76 israised under the influence of spring 78 and the pump pressure. If theknob 81 is adjusted for maximum pressure, valve member 76 completelycloses during the piston pressure stroke to deliver all of the liquidthrough bore 76 during the pump pressure stroke. However, when knob 81is adjusted for lower pressure the valve member 76 does not completelyclose during the piston pressure stroke so that a predetermined fractionof the liquid is returned to the reservoir 14 during the pressure strokethrough port 23, the fraction depending on the adjustment of knob 81 andthe valve opening during the piston pressure storke, The jet pressure,velocity and volume are accordingly adjusted.

It has been found that a piston frequency between about 1,750 and 2,500cycles per minute is most effective, the optimum being between 1,800'and2,000 cycles per minute, for example, L900 cycles per minute and thedrive motor and motion transmission accordingly selected and designated.The above procedure can be repeated when desired, the water in reservoir14 being replenished when necessary. When the charge of the battery isconsumed the battery may be recharged merely by coupling it to asuitable charging device by way of the socket 103 and a mating polarizedplug of the charging device. In storing device 10 the nozzle 12 isrotated in the manner described above to a position along the handle 11and the switch button 106 locked in its retracted position.

While there has been described and illustrated a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention it is apparent that numerous alterations,omissions and additions may be made without departing from the spiritthereof.

I claim: I

1. A dental treating device comprising a hollow handle member providedwith a liquid reservoir and a compartment positioned below saidreservoir and a partition separating said reservoir and compartment, anozzle mounted on said handle, a reciprocating pump mounted in saidhandle member and including a cylinder mounted on said partition andcommunicating with said nozzle, and a piston reciprocable in saidcylinder, and means providing communication between said cylinder andsaid reservoir and including a check valve located between said cylinderand said expansion chamber and movable between closed and open positionsand urged toward an open position in response to the suction stroke ofsaid pump, control means for adjustably limiting the closed position ofsaid check valve, and means for driving said pump and including anelectric motor having a drive shaft and a rotary-toreciprocating motiontranslation transmission connecting said drive shaft to said piston. I

2. The dental treating device of claim 1, wherein said check valvecomprises a valve seat and valve member movable longitudinally betweenadvanced and retracted positions toward and away from engagement withsaid valve seat, and exposed to said cylinder to be retracted under theinfluence of said pump suction stroke, and said control means includes astop member limiting the closed position of said valve member between aposition in engagement with said valve seat and a predetermined distancefrom said valve seat.

3. The dental treating device of claim 2, wherein said stop membercomprises a rod having an inner end confronting a face of said valvemember exposed to said reservoir and a threaded section, and saidcontrol means includes a fixed member provided with a tapped boreengaging said threaded section and a knob mounted on the outer end ofsaid rod.

4. The dental treating device of claim 1, wherein said partition has avalve seat defining port formed therein and said cylinder is mounted onand depends from said partition with its upper end registering with saidport, and said check valve comprises a valve member movable upwardly anddownwardly toward and away from closing engagement with said port, andspring means normally urging said valve member upwardly.

5. The dental treating device of claim 4, wherein said pressure controlmeans comprises a stop member located above and in the vertical path ofsaid valve member, and means for vertically adjusting the position ofsaid stop member.

6. The dental treating device of claim 1, including a horizontalmounting plate located in said compartment between the top and bottomthereof, a sleeve positioned on said mounting plate coaxial with saidpiston, a vertical piston rod slideably engaging said sleeve andconnectedto said piston, said transmission including a cross head fixedto said piston rod, a crank shaft having 8 an eccentric followerengaging said cross head, and means connecting said crank shaft to saidmotor drive shaft.

7. The dental treating device of claim 6, wherein said motor is mountedon the underface of said mounting plate and said transmission issupported on the top face of said mounting plate.

8. The dental treating device of claim 7, wherein the bottom of saidcompartment is provided with a separable lid providing access to saidcompartment, and comprising a battery housed in said compartment, andmeans including an externally accessable switch connecting said batteryto said motor.

9. The dental treating device of claim 1, wherein said nozzle isangularly adjustable about a transverse axis.

10. A dental treating device comprising a hollow handle member providedwith a liquid reservoir, an elongated longitudinally extending nozzlemounted on said handle and angularly adjustable about a transverse axis,a pump mounted in said handle and including an inlet and an outlet,means including a check valve connecting said pump inlet to saidreservoir, means defining a passageway connecting said pump outlet tosaid nozzle, said passageway terminating in a socket exposed at an outerface of said handle member, a tubualr plug projecting transversely fromthe base of and communicating with said nozzle and rotatably engagingsaid nozzle, means including an electric motor housed in said handle fordriving said pump, a battery separably housed in said handle, and meansincluding a switch-connecting said motor to said battery.

11. The dental treating device of claim 10, including means forreleasably locking said nozzle in a preselected angular position.

12. The dental treating device of claim 11, wherein said locking meansare defined by mating radially serrated annular surfaces formed onconfronting surfaces surrounding and concentric with said socket andplug.

nal axis of said nozzle.

1. A dental treating device comprising a hollow handle member providedwith a liquid reservoir and a compartment positioned below saidreservoir and a partition separating said reservoir and compartment, anozzle mounted on said handle, a reciprocating pump mounted in saidhandle member and including a cylinder mounted on said partition andcommunicating with said nozzle, and a piston reciprocable in saidcylinder, and means providing communication between said cylinder andsaid reservoir and including a check valve located between said cylinderand said expansion chamber and movable between closed and open positionsand urged toward an open position in response to the suction stroke ofsaid pump, control means for adjustably limiting the closed position ofsaid check valve, and means for driving said pump and including anelectric motor having a drive shaft and a rotary-to-reciprocating motiontranslation transmission connecting said drive shaft to said piston. 2.The dental treating device of claim 1, wherein said check valvecomprises a valve seat and valve member movable longitudinally betweenadvanced and retracted positions toward and away from engagement withsaid valve seat, and exposed to said cylinder to be retracted under theinfluence of said pump suction stroke, and said control means includes astop member limiting the closed position of said valve member between aposition in engagement with said valve seat and a predetermined distancefrom said valve seat.
 3. The dental treating device of claim 2, whereinsaid stop member comprises a rod having an inner end confronting a faceof said valve member exposed to said reservoir and a threaded section,and said control means includes a fixed member provided with a tappedbore engaging said threaded section and a knob mounted on the outer endof said rod.
 4. The dental treating device of claim 1, wherein saidpartition has a valve seat defining port formed therein and saidcylinder is mounted on and depends from said partition with its upperend registering with said port, and said check valve comprises a valvemember movable upwardly and downwardly toward and away from closingengagement with said port, and spring means normally urging said valvemember upwardly.
 5. The dental treating device of claim 4, wherein saidpressure control means comprises a stop member located above and in thevertical path of said valve member, and means for vertically adjustingthe position of said stop member.
 6. The dental treating device of claim1, including a horizontal mounting plate located in said compartmentbetween the top and bottom thereof, a sleeve positioned on said mountingplate coaxial with said piston, a vertical piston rod slideably engagingsaid sleeve and connected to said piston, said transmission including across head fixed to said piston rod, a crank shaft having an eccentricfollower engaging said cross head, and means connecting said crank shaftto said motor drive shaft.
 7. The dental treating device of claim 6,wherein said motor is mounted on the underface of said mounting plateand said transmission is supported on the top face of said mountingplate.
 8. The dental treating device of claim 7, Wherein the bottom ofsaid compartment is provided with a separable lid providing access tosaid compartment, and comprising a battery housed in said compartment,and means including an externally accessable switch connecting saidbattery to said motor.
 9. The dental treating device of claim 1, whereinsaid nozzle is angularly adjustable about a transverse axis.
 10. Adental treating device comprising a hollow handle member provided with aliquid reservoir, an elongated longitudinally extending nozzle mountedon said handle and angularly adjustable about a transverse axis, a pumpmounted in said handle and including an inlet and an outlet, meansincluding a check valve connecting said pump inlet to said reservoir,means defining a passageway connecting said pump outlet to said nozzle,said passageway terminating in a socket exposed at an outer face of saidhandle member, a tubualr plug projecting transversely from the base ofand communicating with said nozzle and rotatably engaging said nozzle,means including an electric motor housed in said handle for driving saidpump, a battery separably housed in said handle, and means including aswitch connecting said motor to said battery.
 11. The dental treatingdevice of claim 10, including means for releasably locking said nozzlein a preselected angular position.
 12. The dental treating device ofclaim 11, wherein said locking means are defined by mating radiallyserrated annular surfaces formed on confronting surfaces surrounding andconcentric with said socket and plug.
 13. The dental device of claim 10,wherein said plug and socket are in separable engagement.
 14. The dentaldevice of claim 10 wherein said nozzle is angularly adjustable in saidplug about the longitudinal axis of said nozzle.